Many Indians—One Tribe

As usual yesterday's gathering left everyone who attended with great memories to file away in our heart. The problem is some of us seem to have sprouted some leaks in our memories. It is funny what some of us remember that others have long forgotten. Things that seemed so important in high school have vaporized and all that is left behind are the lingering memories of good times. I always find myself in a very reflective mood after our reunions. It is like "the wise one" (David) said, "We spend our lives chasing age." When we are young we are striving to become older and when we are older we long to regain our youth. That is where I find myself after days spent with old friends; wishing there was a way to recapture that time when I was young.
If it were not for the special bonds I feel strengthening between us each time we are together I would probably be depressed. As much as it pains me to say it, getting older is really a great thing. I find myself becoming more appreciative of the little things life has to offer, I am content in the moment I am currently in, and satisfied even in times of trial. I most definitely live a blessed life. God has given me much more than I deserve.
I have often heard it said that if you are fortunate enough to find one or two true friends in life you are lucky. What our class has is so unusual. I would do just about anything for my friends from the class of 84. We have a bond that is not easily broken. I also feel that there are many of you that I could call on and you would be there for me. That is such a rare and special gift. I thank each of you for simply being yourself. Each of you holds such wonderful unique qualities. Individually we are so different but when we come together we are one. We are the CHS class of 84. There are many Indians but one tribe. The one burning question is, "Whatever happened to our flaxen-haired Japanese Homecoming Queen?" If you see her please bring her to the next reunion because apparently some of us don't believe she ever existed. The memory of her has slowly leaked out of their brains.

Many Indians—One Tribe

As usual yesterday's gathering left everyone who attended with great memories to file away in our heart. The problem is some of us seem to have sprouted some leaks in our memories. It is funny what some of us remember that others have long forgotten. Things that seemed so important in high school have vaporized and all that is left behind are the lingering memories of good times. I always find myself in a very reflective mood after our reunions. It is like "the wise one" (David) said, "We spend our lives chasing age." When we are young we are striving to become older and when we are older we long to regain our youth. That is where I find myself after days spent with old friends; wishing there was a way to recapture that time when I was young.
If it were not for the special bonds I feel strengthening between us each time we are together I would probably be depressed. As much as it pains me to say it, getting older is really a great thing. I find myself becoming more appreciative of the little things life has to offer, I am content in the moment I am currently in, and satisfied even in times of trial. I most definitely live a blessed life. God has given me much more than I deserve.
I have often heard it said that if you are fortunate enough to find one or two true friends in life you are lucky. What our class has is so unusual. I would do just about anything for my friends from the class of 84. We have a bond that is not easily broken. I also feel that there are many of you that I could call on and you would be there for me. That is such a rare and special gift. I thank each of you for simply being yourself. Each of you holds such wonderful unique qualities. Individually we are so different but when we come together we are one. We are the CHS class of 84. There are many Indians but one tribe. The one burning question is, "Whatever happened to our flaxen-haired Japanese Homecoming Queen?" If you see her please bring her to the next reunion because apparently some of us don't believe she ever existed. The memory of her has slowly leaked out of their brains.

Fuzzy Wuzzy and the Perfect Host

This afternoon I was greeted by G when I arrived home. He was propped up on the sofa watching television and waiting for me to get home. He immediately said, "I have an announcement to make." He then called out to his brother, "T bring me that bookbag I brought home."

T came into the room almost immediately carrying a small clear bookbag containing one very loved bear, a small white rabbit and a journal to use to record the adventures of the bear while he was at our house. It turns out that the bear is named Fuzzy Wuzzy. Of course the first thing that came to mind when I read this was "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy was he?" I am sure that early in his life Fuzzy Wuzzy did indeed have a beautiful coat of fuzzy furry hair. That is not the case today. Did I mention that he has been very well loved?

When I think of all the little boys and girls that have taken Fuzzy Wuzzy home with them, played with him, told him their secrets, given him their hugs and kisses, and cuddled up to sleep with him at night, I actually tear up. How wonderful to imagine all that love poured into one little bear. Reading the adventures of Fuzzy Wuzzy and the many children he has followed home over the years fascinated me. I couldn't help getting caught up in the book. I found myself wondering what Fuzzy Wuzzy would do next. I asked Sweet G what he wanted to do with Fuzzy Wuzzy and after a brief moment of reflection he answered, "I know, we need to take Fuzzy Wuzzy out to dinner. You know he is only going to be here one night Momma. I have to take him back tomorrow."

I thought this was pretty clever for G to think of. I must admit that his reasoning made it hard to resist. So, after a quick call to J it was decided that dinner was indeed in Fuzzy Wuzzy's future.

Fuzzy Wuzzy has had many adventures. He has watched a lot of television, played plenty of video games, been to many sporting events, jumped on a trampoline, and slept with every child that has taken him home. And after tonight he can add going to work (J had a service call) and eating at the world's best barbeque place. I may be prejudice but I think my Sweet G was the perfect host to his new friend.

The perfect host and the perfect houseguest!!

Fuzzy Wuzzy and the Perfect Host

This afternoon I was greeted by G when I arrived home. He was propped up on the sofa watching television and waiting for me to get home. He immediately said, "I have an announcement to make." He then called out to his brother, "T bring me that bookbag I brought home."

T came into the room almost immediately carrying a small clear bookbag containing one very loved bear, a small white rabbit and a journal to use to record the adventures of the bear while he was at our house. It turns out that the bear is named Fuzzy Wuzzy. Of course the first thing that came to mind when I read this was "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy was he?" I am sure that early in his life Fuzzy Wuzzy did indeed have a beautiful coat of fuzzy furry hair. That is not the case today. Did I mention that he has been very well loved?

When I think of all the little boys and girls that have taken Fuzzy Wuzzy home with them, played with him, told him their secrets, given him their hugs and kisses, and cuddled up to sleep with him at night, I actually tear up. How wonderful to imagine all that love poured into one little bear. Reading the adventures of Fuzzy Wuzzy and the many children he has followed home over the years fascinated me. I couldn't help getting caught up in the book. I found myself wondering what Fuzzy Wuzzy would do next. I asked Sweet G what he wanted to do with Fuzzy Wuzzy and after a brief moment of reflection he answered, "I know, we need to take Fuzzy Wuzzy out to dinner. You know he is only going to be here one night Momma. I have to take him back tomorrow."

I thought this was pretty clever for G to think of. I must admit that his reasoning made it hard to resist. So, after a quick call to J it was decided that dinner was indeed in Fuzzy Wuzzy's future.

Fuzzy Wuzzy has had many adventures. He has watched a lot of television, played plenty of video games, been to many sporting events, jumped on a trampoline, and slept with every child that has taken him home. And after tonight he can add going to work (J had a service call) and eating at the world's best barbeque place. I may be prejudice but I think my Sweet G was the perfect host to his new friend.

The perfect host and the perfect houseguest!!

Paper That Just Won’t Cooperate

My Sweet G has not been his typical pleasant even tempered, compliant child as of late. He has decided that he has an opinion on things and is growing very comfortable expressing those opinions. Not only has he been doing this at home, but he has been doing it at school also. He has been choosing to passively defy one certain teacher in particular. She is a great teacher and is very passionate about her job. She does not want to frustrate G if he is not capable of doing the work but feels strongly that we need to push him a little harder to see just how much he is capable of accomplishing. G is a very smart little boy. He can hear the first few notes of a song and tell you the artist and title immediately. He has an unbelievable ear for music. He can sing the lyrics to a song after hearing it only once and a lot of times can sing part of the song on the first time. He just recognizes patterns very quickly and can predict the ending of some of the lines of a song before they have been sung. He is truly amazing. Because of some of the talents he displays like this ability to memorize easily his teacher really wants to push him now to see just what will happen.

G's recent discovery of his free will and his new found need and desire for independence has resulted in him pushing the envelope to see just what he can get by with. He has upped the stakes and after completing one math problem begins his new trick of ignoring the teacher. He just sits there as if he has suddenly become deaf as well as being orthopedically impaired, selective hearing to the inth degree. He sits for 5, 10, even 20 minutes at a time. Last week his teacher said the words that makes every elementary school student's heart sink, "Move your stick." This caused an eruption of tears that lasted several minutes. After three trips to check on him to see if he was in control of himself and was ready to work he finally decided he was. Oh, but alas he had waited too long to make the decision and was out of time. He was told that he would have to come back during his activity time to finish. When he returned he finished in two minutes. Come on now G, get with the program and stop being so stubborn.

This morning J had to give me a ride to school because my van decided it wanted to break down 20 feet from the entrance to my school last week. We dropped Sweet G off at his school first since his school is closer to our house. Mrs. B came to the truck to get our precious little boy and I noticed that when he saw it was she who was coming to get him he had dropped his head and refused to look at her. That boy!!

This evening when I finally arrived home from my evening class I asked G how his day went. I asked if he did math with Mrs. B and his reply was something I didn't expect even from him. He said, "I tried Mom, but that paper just wouldn't listen to me. I don't know why it wouldn't cooperate."

I know that underneath all that stubborn uncooperative behavior there is a little boy with a tender, loving, sweet spirit. Oh, how I can sympathize with him. Sometimes it is just so easy to do the wrong thing and so difficult to do the things we know are right. So, just as my Heavenly Father never gives up on me, I will continue to believe in my Sweet G and nudge him in the direction he should go. He is at a tender place right now. He is beginning to ask some deep spiritual questions and I feel that he is right on the verge of turning all his bad behavior around so that he is once again exactly in the center of that narrow path. Bless him Jesus. Call his name and prepare his heart to accept You as his Savior. Provide J and me with the wisdom to answer his questions and help lead him on his way to You.